2 23 09 City Council Proceedings Official_Special
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
OFFICIAL
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on February 23, 2009
in the Historic Federal Building.
Present: Mayor Buol, Council Members Braig, Connors, Jones, Lynch, Resnick,
Voetberg, City Manager Van Milligen
Fiscal Year 2010 Departmental Budgets were presented by staff from the following
City departments: Purchase of Services, Library Department, Health Services, Fire
Department.
Purchase of Services:
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America’s River Corporation: Board Member Keith Rahe, 1851 330 Street,
Dyersville, thanked the City Council for their continued support of the activities of the
America’s River Corporation and its partners.
Every Child/Every Promise: Executive Director Mae Hingtgen, 2469 Matthew John
Drive, thanked the City Council for their continued support of the activities of the Every
Child/Every Promise program.
Helping Services of Northeast Iowa: Prevention Supervisor Claire Jones. 480 Blair
Drive, provided information on the current services and future activities of Helping
Services of Northeast Iowa. Upon questioning by City Council, Ms. Jones explained
how funds are used within the agency.
Hills and Dales Senior Center: Executive Director Marilyn Althoff, 2011 Davis Street,
provided information on the current services and future activities of the Hills and Dales
Senior Center and thanked the City Council for their continued support. Referral and
Activities Coordinator Casey Leist, 425 Main Street, Colesburg, highlighted information
contained on a handout she distributed.
Operation: New View Community Action Agency: Executive Director Tom Stovall,
3345 Tibey Court, clarified the process by which members are appointed to the
agency’s board and the board’s purpose. Stovall reviewed how the agency does
business through other counties and cities and highlighted a handout, which provided
information regarding the agency’s activities and budget. Upon questioning by City
Council, Stovall stated that despite receiving one-time economic stimulus funds, City
funding is also needed to sustain programs. He added that the agency is willing to
collaborate with other agencies regarding use of the stimulus funds. Braig informed
Stovall that even City funding for all purchase of service contracts should be considered
a one-time funding opportunity.
Project Concern:
Child Care Referral: Executive Director Nancy Lewis, 420 Pawnee Court, Galena,
thanked the City Council for their continued support. Lewis reviewed the agency’s
funding options, services and activities and noted other partner agencies.
Foster Grandparent Program: Lewis described the process of assigning foster
grandparents to students and the funding options available for this program
Information and Referral: Lewis provided an overview of the program’s funding
options and activities and described the financial qualifications required by participants.
She added that participants are connected to partnering agencies whenever possible
and that for most cases, all funds must go directly to participants.
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program: Director Deb Bell, 17516 Melody Circle,
thanked the City Council for their continued support and described the program’s
activities and campaigns. Bell stated that City funding helps sustain the program’s part-
time position.
Budget Director Jenny Larson submitted a written communication from the
Substance Abuse Services Center in support of continued City funding.
Executive Director of Opening Doors, Maria House, and the Teresa Shelter, Michele
Brown, 2250 Southway Drive, asked the City Council to reconsider their funding request
and introduced board members and staff. Several shelter residents and former
residents spoke of the assistance they have received through the programs offered at
these facilities. Maria House/Opening Doors Program Director Sherry McDonald, 115
Alpine Street, described the many support services the facility provides. Opening Doors
Board Member, Lisa Graff, 3001 N. Cascade Road, reiterated the benefits to funding
these facilities and thanked City Council for their consideration. Upon questioning by
City Council, Brown stated that despite working on many grants, there are not many
available for on-going projects, and fund raising events can be very labor intensive.
Following discussion of the Purchase of Services budget, City Council reached
consensus on possibly reallocating funds from Substance Abuse Services Center,
Helping Services of NE Iowa, and the Washington Tool Library to fund the Maria House.
Staff was requested to determine if Maria House and Teresa Shelter were eligible for
Community Development Block Grant funds. Van Milligen will hold this item for separate
discussion at the final budget hearing on March 9, 2009.
Library Department: Director Susan Henricks introduced members of the Library
Board of Trustees and several staff member and presented the department’s Fiscal
Year 2010 recommended budget. Henricks stated improvement packages #1 and #2
are essential and requested City Council reconsider the Library’s staffing needs as a
part of the renovation and expansion and projected increase in visitors. Henricks
informed Council that if staffing is cut below 61 hours, the Library would lose its
accreditation and state funding. City Council discussion focused on the reality for
additional library staff as a result of the renovation and considered options and what
adjustments can be made to meet this need. Mayor Buol suggested Henricks provide a
report to City Council after the renovation’s anticipated completion in January 2010 and
during the Council’s annual goal setting in August 2010.
Responding to discussion among City Council Members, Library Board President
Diann Guns stated that this staffing issue was addressed in the initial capital campaign
plans through the consideration of an endowment fund. Guns added that the current
staffing requests are the minimum needed to operate the renovated Library upon re-
opening. Library Board Member Paula Connors described how the Library meets the
City Council’s goals and priorities including sustainability, Every Child/Every Promise,
and taxpayer value. Connors added that staff continually reviews the Library’s program
schedule for possible cost savings through the deletion of unpopular programs. Library
Board Member Mike Willis compared the Carnegie-Stout Public Library to other libraries
across the state and nation-wide and reiterated the need for staffing as stated by Ms.
Guns and Ms. Connors.
Health Services: Public Health Specialist Mary Rose Corrigan presented the
department’s Fiscal Year 2010 recommended budget. Responding to questions by City
Council, Corrigan stated that the Health Services budget has not yet been impacted by
a national disease outbreak and information regarding outbreaks is distributed to the
public as quickly as possible.
Fire Department: Fire Chief Dan Brown introduced the Fire Department’s command
staff and presented its Fiscal Year 2010 recommended budget. Responding to
questions by City Council, Brown stated that the green roof project planned for Fire
Headquarters has been postponed, and the original roof will be repaired as needed.
Brown then stated that the CPAT pilot program being used in conjunction with
Davenport is a program that the department has assessed, has been tested nation-
wide, and includes many safety factors and standards, which benefit test candidates.
Brown added that Dubuque’s firefighters have been trained to proctor the program.
Local Firefighters’ Union President Dave Beaves questioned the Fire Department’s use
of the CPAT test license stating that the copyright is owned by the International
Association of Firefighters, and it has not authorized Dubuque or Davenport to
administer the test. Mayor Buol informed Beaves that this issue cannot be addressed as
part of the budget hearing.
There being no further business, upon motion the City Council adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
/s/Jeanne F. Schneider, CMC
City Clerk
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